ACID RAIN

Increasing acidity in natural waters and soil is becoming a problem all

over the world, particularly in North East America, North West Europe
and India. Acid rain has become an invisible threat present in rivers,
lakes and forests of UK, USSR, Canada and Germany.

Generally rain water gets acidic because CO2, SO2 and NO2 present in
the atmosphere get dissolved in it forming carbonic acid (H2CO3),
sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3) respectively. Due to
presence of these acids the pH of the rain water lowered to a value of
2.4 and this type of raining of lower pH is called acid rain. A value of pH
below 5.6 denotes acid rain.
The harmful rain was discovered by an English scientist, Robert Angus
Smith who came up with the term Acid Rain’ in 1872, when he saw
corrosion on the surfaces of buildings and plants because of rain.

Air pollution ultimately leads to acid rain as the harmful gases, which
are mixed in the air, also get combined with the moisture in the air and
form acidic clouds, which lead to acid rain. The main causes of acid
rain are factories, vehicles, power stations and industries; which burn
fuels and produce harmful gases, which have sulfur dioxide or nitrogen
oxides.

Acid rain primarily means the deposition of acidic elements in the forms
of precipitation, which can be snow, rain, dew or fog. Normally rain is
acidic though weak as the Ph . There are two types of acid deposition,
one is wet and the other is dry. Wet deposition is the one, which
involves acid rain or snow or dew whereas dry deposition is when the
particles such as polluting gases, dust particles and gaseous elements
are just absorbed by the surface of the Earth or the plant bodies .They
are not converted into acids until and unless they are in contact with
water. In case of wet deposition the acids are removed from the
atmospheric air and are deposited on the surface of the earth.
 FORMATION OF ACID RAIN
In its purest state, rain water is like distilled water. It does not have
carbon dioxide dissolved in it. It is neutral, with a pH level of 7. As rain
water falls through the atmosphere, particles suspended in the air are
dissolved in it.
These substances are generally dust, pollen grains and carbon dioxide
(CO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Emissions of
volcanoes and lightning tend to decrease the pH level of acid rain,
making it even more acidic. CO2 combines with water to form carbonic
acid (H2CO3),
H2O (1) + CO2 (g) = H2CO3 (aq)
Carbonic acid ionizes in water to form low concentrations of carbonate
and hydronium ions.

2H2O (1) + H2CO3 (aq) = CO2-3 (aq) + 2H3O+ (aq)

Carbonic acid is a weak acid. It brings down the pH of the rain water
6.5-5.2. With pH levels ranging between 6.0—5.2, rain water is acidic,
but to still not dangerous. This is a reversible reaction.

The problem occurs when rain water combines with gaseous oxides of
sulfur, nitrogen and phosphoric and hydrochloric acid mists. The latter
two and sulfur are released into the atmosphere from automobile
exhausts, industries and electric power plants.

Nitrogen forms a major part of atmospheric composition. These

chemicals bring down the acid rain pH level to 5.6-3.5. Sometimes, the
pH level can even become as low as 2. This phenomenon of acidic rain
water precipitation is called acid rain.
 Sulphuric acid and nitric acid are the main
acids present in acid rain. Sulfuric acid is
formed as follows:
i. Sulfur released into the atmosphere combines with atmospheric
oxygen to form sulfur dioxide (SO2).
ii. Sulfur dioxide reacts with atmospheric water to form sulfurous acid.

SO2 (g) + H2O (1) = H2SO3 (aq)

iii. Sulfurous acid is also present in acid rain.

iv. Sulfur dioxide gradually oxidizes to form sulfur trioxide. (SO3)

2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) = 2SO3 (g)

v. Sulfur trioxide reacts with water to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4)

SO3 (g) + H2O (1) = H2SO4 (aq)

Formation of nitric acid starts with high temperature combustion

processes. Most of the nitric oxide forms by burning of organic
compounds of nitrogen. Nitric oxide is also released as a result of
microbial nitrification in the soil. These nitric oxide reacts in a different
way in day and evening time.

In day time, oxidation of nitric acid occurs by O2, O3 and ROO and from
nitric acid as final product.
 CAUSES OF ACID RAIN
Acid rain is a form of pollution that can cause of lot of damage to
natural ecosystems, to man-made objects, as well can harm to human
health.

Human activity is the main cause of acid rain. Burning of fossil fuels is
the primary source of these gases. With increase in industrialization
and number of vehicles running on the roads, fumes that contain these
gases are being added to the atmosphere at such a rate that the
excess of these gases can’t be neutralized by natural processes.

For example, combustion of fossil fuel in vehicles and industries like

iron and steel, processing of crude oil and utility factories contribute to
more than 70% of the sulfur dioxide that is added to the atmosphere.

Almost 75% of oxides of nitrogen are released by similar processes.

However, natural phenomena like eruption of volcanoes, lightning,
forest fires, rotting vegetables and action of bacteria on the soil also
release these gases. However, their contribution amounts to less than
10% of the total amount..

Sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen are very light and they can be
carried far, away from the industries that actually spewed them. Hence,
acid rain can also be experienced in places that are not heavily
industrialized.

Acid rain, more accurately acid precipitation, is the term used for
describing rainfall with a pH level lower than 5.6. This type of pollution
is a matter of great debate currently due to the potential of its causing
environmental damages all across the world. For the last decade acid
rain has caused destruction to hundreds of lakes and streams in many
 parts of the world, including the US, Canada, and Europe.

The oxides of nitrogen, (Nox) and sulfur dioxide, (SO2) are the two main
sources of acid rain. Sulfur dioxide, which is a colourless gas, is given
off as a byproduct when fossil fuels that contain sulfur are burned. This
gas is produced due to various industrial processes, like the processing
of crude oil, utility factories, and iron and steel factories.
Natural means and disaster can also result in sulphur dioxide being
released into the atmosphere, such as rotting vegetation, plankton, sea
spray, and volcanoes, all of which emit about 10% sulphur dioxide. On
the whole, industrial combustion is responsible for 69.4% sulphur
dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, and vehicular transportation is
responsible for about 3.7%.

Nitrogen oxide is the other chemical that acid rain is made up of. Any
nitrogen compound that contains oxygen atoms of any amount is
known as oxides of nitrogen. For example, nitrogen dioxide and
nitrogen monoxide are oxides of nitrogen.

These gases are produced in firing processes which involve extremely

high temperatures, e.g., utility plants and automobiles, as well as in
chemical industries, such as in the production of fertilizers. Five
percent of nitrogen oxide is emitted by natural processes like lighting,
volcanic eruptions, forests fires, and action of bacteria in the soil.
Industrial processes emit 32% and vehicular transportation is
responsible for 43%.

Rapid industrialization is the main cause of increase in the incidence of

acid rain and precipitation with low pH value is common in
industrialized nations. However, an amusing acid rain fact is, that it
need not occur at the same place from where the gases that form acid
 rain, are released.

EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN

The effects of acid rain are as follows:
i. Effects of Acid Rain on Plants:
The acid rain affects the crops as well as the vegetation. The effect of
acid rain on plants is grave. It not only damages the root, but also stops
its growth and brings an end to the life of a plant. The nutritive value of
the soil is reduced to a great extent as an effect of acid rain. Acid rain
effects can be seen on the useful micro-organisms which convert the
decayed organic matter into essential nutrients for the soil.

The consequence is that the micro-organisms are killed resulting in

reducing the availability of nutrients for the soil and plants. Also, the
waxy layer of the leaves is damaged which make the plant more and
more susceptible to diseases. On the whole, acid rain effects on plants
make it difficult to survive in the extreme climatic conditions like storm,
drought and heavy rainfall.

It even affects the productivity and the process germination in the

plants. The acidity of the rain has also led to soil erosion by dissolving
the forests and other vegetation. It takes away the essential nutrients of
the soil and releases aluminum, which disables trees from sucking
water from the soil.

This stops the process of conversion of nutrients into energy for the
plants and thus, the yield is affected . Soil contains many harmful
minerals such as mercury and aluminium. These elements can’t be
absorbed by plants and trees and are thus harmless. Upon contact with
acid rain, these chemicals undergo chemical reactions with the acids.

As a result, compounds of aluminium, lead and mercury are formed.

Plants and trees can easily absorb these compounds. Such elements,
which are extremely harmful to living forms, ultimately affect the entire
food chain. These chemicals not only harm to flora, but also the
animals that feed on them.

ii. Effects of Acid Rain on Aquatic Life:

Apart from plants, acid rain also affects aquatic organisms adversely. A
high amount of sulfuric acid interferes with the ability of fish to take in
nutrients, salt, and oxygen. As far as freshwater fish is concerned, in
order for them to stay alive they need to have the ability of maintaining
a balance between the minerals and salts in their tissues.

The molecules of acid result in mucus forming in their gills, which

prevents them from absorbing oxygen in adequate amounts. Plus, the
acidity, which reduces the pH level, causes the imbalance of salt in the
tissues of fish.

Moreover, this change in the pH level also impairs the some of the
fish’s ability to maintain their calcium levels. This impairs reproduction
the ability of the fish, because the eggs become too weak or brittle.
Lack of calcium also causes deformed bones and weakened spines.

Acid rain has the ability to leach harmful heavy metals like aluminium
and mercury from the soil. They get drained to the water body where
aquatic life in hampered. Acid rain effects on streams and lakes are
concerned with the health of water species.

Not only a large number of species are killed due to deposition of

harmful chemicals inside their body but it also affects the health of
human beings on consumption of different varieties of fish. These toxic
chemicals also damage hatchings and their reproduction process.
Decrease in number of species as a result of sudden deposition of acid
is known as acid shock.

iii. Effects of Acid Rain on Humans:

Most of all, acid rain affects human health adversely. It has the ability
of harming us via the atmosphere as well as the soil where the food we
eat is grown. Acid rain results in toxic metals breaking from the
chemical compounds that occur naturally. Though toxic metals may be
dangerous, but as long as they exist in combination with other
elements, they are not harmful.

Once acid rain causes these toxic metals to be released they can
infiltrate into the drinking water, and the animals or crops that humans
use as sources of food. This contaminated food can damage the
nerves in children, or result in severe brain damage or even death.
Scientists suspect that aluminium, one of the toxic metals affected by
acid rain, is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Another adverse health effect of acid rain on humans is the respiratory

problems it causes. The emissions of nitrogen oxide and sulphur
dioxide cause respiratory problems like throat, nose and eye irration;
headache; asthma; and dry coughs.

Acid rain is particularly harmful for those who have difficulty in

breathing or suffer from asthma. In fact, even the lungs of healthy
people can be damaged by the pollutants in acid air.

People if get exposed to acid rain will suffer from skin blisters, irritation
and burns. Under high acidic condition, the skin gets burned. Scientists
also say that the risk of getting skin cancer is highly increased due to
acid rain. The health effect of acid rain also comes from other sources.

The harmful chemicals pass into human beings when they consume
the plants and animals. Many rural dwellers suffer from health
problems due to consumption of acidified drinking water directly from
lakes and other water bodies.

iv. Effects on Buildings and Monuments:

Acid rain causes severe damage to buildings and marble statues. Acid
rain reacts with the calcium carbonate (CaCO3) to form soluble calcium
hydrogen carbonate or calcium bicarbonate,
Ca(HCO3)2 -CaCO3 + Acid rain = Ca(HCO3) (aq)
Calcium bicarbonate is a powdery substance, which is easily washed
away with water or more specifically, rainwater. This is the way acid
rain has partly eroded many world-famous monuments and buildings
like the Taj Mahal in India, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, and the
Statue of Liberty in New York.

Acid rain can destroy stained glass windows in churches, bridges made
of steel, and railway tracks. It corrodes metal, ruins the paint colours,
weakens leather and forms a crust on glass surfaces.
IMPACT OF ACID RAIN ON
ENVIRONMENT